April 2017 Municipal Ballot Issues

Ballot Text

SHALL ARTICLE VI, SECTION 6-80 OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS BE AMENDED TO PROVIDE THAT CITY COUNCIL CANNOT SELL ALL OR ANY SUBSTANTIAL PART OF THE CITY’S WATER SYSTEM, WASTEWATER SYSTEM, ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER SYSTEM, GAS SYSTEM OR OTHER UTILITY OWNED BY THE CITY WITHOUT APPROVAL BY AT LEAST SIXTY PERCENT (60%) OF THE ELECTORS OF THE CITY VOTING UPON SUCH QUESTION, RATHER THAN A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF THE ELECTORS (OVER 50%) AS REQUIRED BY THE CURRENT CHARTER?
Explained

Would amend the City of Colorado Springs Charter to increase the percentage of votes required to approve the sale or lease of a substantial part of a city utility (including the water system, wastewater system, electric light and power system, and gas system) from a simple majority (more than 50%) of votes to at least 60% of the voting electors needed to approve the sale.
A YES Vote

Changes the city charter to require 60 percent of voters to approve selling any substantial part of the city’s utilities.
A NO Vote

Retains the current requirement of a simple majority (50 percent plus one) to approve selling the city’s utilities.

Ballot Text

WITHOUT INCREASING TAXES, SHALL THE CITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS BE PERMITTED TO RETAIN AND SPEND UP TO $6,000,000, THE ESTIMATED 2016 FISCAL YEAR REVENUE ABOVE THE 2016 FISCAL YEAR REVENUE AND SPENDING LIMITATIONS, AND A LIKE AMOUNT OF ANY EXCESS REVENUE IN FISCAL YEAR 2017, SOLELY FOR STORMWATER PROJECTS LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS, ALL AS REQUIRED OF THE CITY UNDER LAW, PERMIT OR CONTRACT, AS A VOTER APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE AND EXCEPTION TO ANY CONSTITUTIONAL OR CHARTER LIMITATIONS THAT MAY OTHERWISE APPLY, WITH EXCESS REVENUE IN FISCAL YEARS 2016 AND 2017 BEYOND THIS $6,000,000 REVENUE CHANGE TO BE REFUNDED TO TAXPAYERS IN SUCH MANNER AS COUNCIL SHALL DETERMINE?
Explained

Allows the city to retain $6,000,000 in 2016 and 2017 excess revenue to invest in stormwater projects, including those that are already contractually required or mandated by law, and refund any excess over $6,000,000 back to city residents.
A YES Vote

Allows the city to keep $6 million of excess revenue to invest in stormwater projects.
A NO Vote

Will require the city to refund the excess revenue to city residents (most likely through a small rebate to each customer of CSU).

Ballot Text

WITHOUT INCREASING TAXES, SHALL THE CITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE, OR TO FACILITATE OR PARTNER OR COORDINATE WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR THE PROVISION OF, "ADVANCED (HIGH-SPEED INTERNET) SERVICE," "CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE," AND "TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE," EITHER DIRECTLY, INDIRECTLY, OR BY CONTRACT, TO RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, NONPROFIT, GOVERNMENT OR OTHER SUBSCRIBERS AND TO ACQUIRE, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN ANY FACILITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING SUCH SERVICES, RESTORING LOCAL AUTHORITY AND FLEXIBILITY THAT WAS TAKEN AWAY BY TITLE 29, ARTICLE 27, PART 1 OF THE COLORADO REVISED STATUTES?
Explained

Allows the city to be exempted from a state law that prevents coordination or partnering with service providers to provide competitive broadband (internet), cable, or telecommunication (phone) service as an alternative to private providers.
A YES Vote

Exempts the city from the state law, allowing it to provide or partner with service providers for high-speed internet service, cable television service and telecommunication service.
A NO Vote

Means the city is subject to the state law and cannot provide or partner to provide competitive telecommunication services.

2017 Colorado Springs Ballot Issues